A new Rapid Response Team, a review of all MCFD-involved young people living on the Downtown Eastside and a service-provider awareness campaign are part of government’s operational response to issues outlined in the Representative for Children and Youth’s report, Paige’s Story.

Most people would assume that, after raising nine children of their own, Penticton’s Edith van de Watering and her husband, Harry Niehe, were looking forward to an empty nest. However, Edith and Harry had other ideas.

Jodi recently heard these words from one of her teenaged foster children. The quiet sentiment offered positive validation of the love and care Jodi and her family have provided to vulnerable youth in the Trail area for the past decade.

Minister of Children and Family Development Stephanie Cadieux released the following statement in response to the Representative for Children and Youth’s (RCY) latest report:

Government is strengthening services on the Downtown Eastside through a rapid response team model that will reach out to directly serve the needs and address the safety of the area’s highest-risk youth.

Minister of Children and Family Development (MCFD) Stephanie Cadieux released the following statement in response to the BC Government and Service Employees’ Union’s (BCGEU) latest report entitled Closing the Circle:

Foster families take on one of society’s most important jobs by caring for young people when their natural families are in crisis.

There are now 110 more child protection workers in B.C. communities than there were in November 2014.

Two new online resources are now available to families living on low incomes and to communities working with them to ensure their needs are met.

Children and Family Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux and Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster met with officials from the regional Interagency Case Assessment Team (ICAT), which supports the Vernon community and surrounding area in dealing with highest-risk domestic violence cases.